The Chapel Hill Current: Editorial Statement & Code of Ethics

The Chapel Hill Current is dedicated to delivering news that informs, inspires, and educates our community.

 

We believe that news should build knowledge, not anxiety.

 

Our stories uncover meaning, connecting historical and cultural events to Chapel Hill's present-day narrative.

 

We embrace Fastvertising, a strategy that merges real-time cultural awareness with timeless journalistic ethics.

 

This approach allows us to respond swiftly to global moments while anchoring our reporting in authenticity, fact, and empathy.

 

Our guiding principle is to respond quickly to the world—but always truthfully, creatively, and with the city as the hero.

 

In practice, this means blending national and global events with Chapel Hill's local heartbeat.

 

Each article serves as both an educational window and a civic mirror, helping readers see how their community reflects the broader human story.

 

Our Code of Ethics includes:

 

1. Fact-Based Storytelling

 

Every article begins with a verifiable event.

 

We cite legitimate sources, confirm dates and details, and never fabricate quotes or data.

 

Accuracy comes before speed, always.

 

2. Community Over Controversy

 

We do not cover politics, crime, gossip, or polarizing commentary.

 

Our focus is civic learning, local heritage, culture, science, and innovation.

 

3. The City as the Hero

 

Each story connects the global to the local.

 

Chapel Hill isn't just a location in our reporting—it's the main character.

 

We highlight its people, creativity, and values.

 

4. Educational Intent

 

Our writing is accessible, engaging, and rooted in curiosity.

 

We aim for a middle-school reading level, so learning feels welcoming, not elitist.

 

5. Transparent Attribution

 

We paraphrase community sentiment when representing collective voices and only use direct quotations that are authentic and verifiable.

 

6. Cultural Timeliness with Integrity

 

We respond swiftly to cultural moments but never sacrifice integrity for immediacy.

 

We publish what's true, not just what's trending.

 

7. Economic and Ethical Value

 

Each article supports the economic and social vitality of Chapel Hill.

 

When we feature local businesses or organizations, we do so editorially—never as disguised advertising—unless clearly marked as sponsored.

 

8. Respect for Diversity and Dignity

 

Our stories are inclusive and respectful.

 

We celebrate diversity as a strength and portray individuals and communities with dignity.

 

Our Promise to Readers:

 

We promise to tell stories that remind you why you love where you live.

 

Our purpose is not to persuade—it's to help you see the extraordinary within the everyday, the light that endures from history into the present.

 

When the world moves fast, The Chapel Hill Current slows down just enough to ask:

 

What can we learn from this—and how does Chapel Hill already embody that lesson?

 

That's not just journalism.

 

That's education through storytelling.